<Anchor>
North Korea, which has been concentrating on corona prevention for several months, is now asking residents to quit smoking.
It seems to have something to do with corona prevention, not just because of health.
This is reporter Kim A-young.
<Reporter> This
is a video from North Korea's Chosun Joongang TV that explains the method of spreading the Corona 19 virus.
[Chosun Joongang TV: Viruses (viruses) with aerosols (fine particles floating in the air) are inhaled like cigarette smoke.] It
is remarkable to explain the path of infection to cigarette smoke inhalation
.
Some warn that the risk of infection with COVID-19 is greater.
It seems that North Korea's anti-smoking law was created last month while focusing on quarantine.
Smoking is viewed as a problem for quarantine, not just for residents' health.
It is still unclear how effective the smoking cessation policy will be.
Even though tobacco control laws are already in place, North Korean society is tolerant of tobacco, as about one in two North Korean men is a smoker.
Chosun Joongang TV also emphasized smoking cessation for many years, but the effect does not seem to be great.
[Chosun JoongAng TV (2016 broadcast);
Men don't listen to what they say.
Oh, can't you quit smoking this one in time?] The fact that
Chairman Kim Jong-un, the top leader, does not participate in smoking cessation, is also countering the effect of the policy.
At the Political Bureau Expansion Meeting on the 29th of last month, after North Korea made the anti-smoking law, Chairman Kim smoked.
Chairman Kim, who is also an exception to wearing a mask, is likely to be an exception to the anti-smoking law.
(Video editing: Seungyeol Lee)